essay on social influences on gender role

Sadhia Malik Psychology essay Describe and evaluate social influences on gender (8+16 Marks)Social learning theory attempts to explain gender through social factors, these factors includeBandura's SLT which states that behaviour is learnt through observation and imitation. Childrenlearn their gender role through three models modelling, enactive behaviour and direct tuition.The first model modelling explains how children can distinguish between a male and a female, butalso tells the differences and similarities in behaviour, this is then a guide to their own behaviour.There is supporting evidence for the first model modelling, by Bandura he is the main source ofevidence for both learning and modelling. The Bobo doll studies are a very good example whichreveals the effect of an adult model on children's aggressive behaviour. This shows a clear indicationthat modelling is a major social influence on gender. On the other hand, there is subsidiary evidenceby Perry and Bussey for modelling they found that children imitate the same sex models behaviour.For example, when a male was eating an apple, the young boy was far more likely to imitate thesame gender than a female eating a banana this demonstrates the effect of modelling on genderdevelopment. However, the children only model the same sex behaviour as long as the behaviourwas not influenced by gender stereotype. This shows that modelling is limited by one factor existingstereotype. It would appear that the first model modelling is a valid form of indirect reinforcement.There is also another supporting evidence for the first model modelling, by Bandura and Bussey,they found that not all children carry out both sexes' activities, for example boys may not cookalthough they observe this activity many times. However this study is a reductionist, as it does nottake into account the biological aspects, and the fact that genetic and hormonal balances may alsoaffect the way we behave.The second model enactive behaviour suggests that when a child is young the child learns toexperience related to their activity. Social interaction with other people is an important source ofgender role information. The third model direct tuition refers to explicit instructions and appropriategender behaviour. This begins when the child acquires language skills. One limitation is that parentsand teachers do not always practise what they preach therefore this contradicts what the modelstates. This direct tuition theory is supported by Martin, who found out that boys only play with toyslabelled `boys toys' and not `girls toys' no matter who played with it, even if they saw other boysplaying with them. This defines the direct tuition theory and suggests that direct tuition has a greaterimpact in influencing gender role behaviour. However, the impact of direct tuition was reduced wheninstructors teaching were denied for what they modelled. However this theory is strongly supportedby the nurture idea that we learn through interactions with others, and this theory of direct tuitionexplains that we learn while we are being brought up.Gender role is influenced by many sources of social influence such as parents. Parents often havefixed views on what is appropriate for males and females, therefore creating differentialreinforcements. For example, a father is more likely to act in negative way to a son if he is behavingin a feminine way than a mother is. There is supporting evidence by Smith and Lloyd for theinfluence of parents on gender role, they found that a mother played with an infant presented as aboy were more likely to select gender appropriate toys, they were also more likely to act different1

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Sadhia Malik Psychology essaywhen a boy showed increased motor skills, than if a girl was too. However this study is lab based,and because of this we cannot compare it to a real life situation clearly lacking reliability.Strength of parental influence is that there is sufficient evidence supporting differential reinforcement,one of them is by Faggot et al they found that parents who showed the clearest patterns ofdifferential reinforcement have children who are the quickest to develop gender preferences.…read more